The Anxiety Diet

Studies have shown that some foods can make you feel calm whilst others can act as stimulants. Paying close attention to what you eat can play a major role in making you feel a whole lot better. Though a diet cannot cure anxiety, having a balanced diet and avoiding certain foods may help you to improve your mood and consequently make you feel a whole lot better.
Eating properly can also help you maintain a balanced energy level throughout the entire day, leveling out the peaks in anxiety and panic.
It is equally important that you eat frequently, but in small portions. This will help you distribute your resources better throughout the day.

The following anxiety diet is the one that I used and still use to this day as it reflects the healthy and varied diet that you should have if you want to keep anxiety away.

Foods and Drinks You Should Consume

Drink a lot of water. Drinking a lot of water will help keep your body hydrated. Slight dehydration can make you feel uneasy. Doctors recommend you drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. Though it may be a little boring to do in the beginning, you’ll get used to it

Eat food that contains Tryptophan and makes you happy. Serotonin and anxiety have a close relationship, so make sure you eat food that have a decent level of tryptophan (which produces the serotonin). These include poultry, dairy products and milk, nuts and seeds. Turkey and milk will surely help you out.

Increase Carbohydrates (starches). Carbohydrates also increase the production of serotonin in the brain, which causes that calming effect. Eat foods rich in complex carbohydrates such as whole wheat bread, and eat less processed carbohydrates such as white bread.
Also avoid sugar, sweets and other processed sources. Processed carbohydrates might provide energy on the short run, but may be followed by an insulin rush, which drops the level of sugar in the bloodstream, causing fatigue. Process foods include junk food like hot dogs, sausages and pies.

Eat food with Protein. Protein will help stimulate the production of Norepinephrine and Dopamine, brain chemicals which similar to serotonin, are neurotransmitters and carry impulses between nerve cells. Protein sources include, meat, fish, eggs, nuts, beans and soy. High levels of protein help build muscle tissue during physical activity and improve levels of mental energy during anxiety.

Eat food with Omega-3. Omega-3 can be found in fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, tuna, mackerel and anchovies. Omega-3 can also contribute to your happiness by mood enhancement. You may also take an Omega-3 supplement to compliment anxiety treatment, as it improves the performance of antidepressants and anxiety treatments.

Foods and Drinks You MUST Avoid

Avoid or Reduce Caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant and acts opposite to relaxation. It amplifies anxiety and makes you become nervous and jumpy, and may even interfere with your sleep. Though quitting for the time being is ideal, if you just love coffe then drink decaf or reduce the amount, period. Caffeine is contained in Coffee, Colas and Energy Drinks.

Avoid or Reduce Alcohol. Even though alcohol may seem calming to most people, after it circulates throughout the body, it can cause anxiety like symptoms. You probably know of people who turned to alcohol in desperate situations, but I bet you know none who stated that alcohol helped successfully.

Stop drugs. By drugs, I mean anything that is not prescribed to you by your doctor. If you smoke tobacco, weed and other substances, it is highly advisable for you to stop immediately. Similar to alcohol, they may seem to calm you down, but only cause further health problems and may amplify the symptoms of panic and anxiety.

Avoid Sweets. Similar to processed foods, the sugar contained in sweets, fizzy drinks and other goodies only wear you down after some time. They may provide as a high energy source, but the insulin rush that follows just takes it all away, leaving you more tired than before.

Use the Anxiety Diet with a Treatment Program

Whilst changes in your diet may make some difference in your level of anxiety, you will also need guidance and apply the techniques in the “Panic Away” Program. It is also advisable to do physical activity at least 3 times a week. An anxiety diet can only be effective if you use all 3 combined together, or else you will see little or no results. I know this because I suffered from anxiety disorder for over 2 years, and I am now completely free from anxiety cycles.

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